Transfer Your Nursing License to Montana: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Montana?
Montana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state: a multistate license from another compact state works in Montana immediately, with no new application while you live in that other state; moving your residence to Montana means applying by endorsement. Nurses from non-compact states (California, New York, and the other non-members) apply to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) for licensure by endorsement — the NCLEX is not retaken.
Moving to Montana from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Montana requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Montana, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member since 2015 — an RN holding a multistate license from another compact state does not need a Montana license to practice; multistate licensees who make Montana their primary state of residence must apply within 60 days.
Montana requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $200 (endorsement fee set by ARM 24.159.401(3), payable when you apply and retained if the application is withdrawn; + separate fingerprint background-check fee paid to the Montana Department of Justice) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a current processing timeframe for online endorsement applications |
Comparing Montana with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Nursing (Department of Labor and Industry) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active license in good standing in another jurisdiction.
- Apply online through the Montana eBiz licensing portal (ebiz.mt.gov).
- Submit fingerprints for a background check through the Montana Department of Justice.
- If you hold another compact state's multistate license and make Montana your primary state of residence, apply for a Montana license within 60 days of the move.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Montana:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Montana:
Montana for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Montana
- Real Estate in Montana
- Contractor in Montana
- Teaching in Montana
- CPA / Accounting in Montana
- Electrician in Montana
- Plumber in Montana
- Engineering in Montana
- Pharmacy in Montana
- Physical Therapy in Montana
- Psychology in Montana
- Counseling in Montana
- Social Work in Montana
- Occupational Therapy in Montana
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Montana?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Montana in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Montana is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Montana without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Montana Board of Nursing — License Information (endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Administrative Rules of Montana 24.159.401 — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Montana Code Annotated 37-1-304 — Licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Montana Board of Nursing — home page (NLC rule 402(2), 60-day relocation rule) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com